What a time that is for Hugo Ekitike to be making his first go to to St James’ after Liverpool gained the race, forward of Newcastle, to signal the French ahead final month.
Ekitike is a participant Howe is aware of effectively and, with out blinking, he can reel off a concise scouting report: actually good motion, clever, good within the air, scores objectives off each toes. That was the lowdown. That was why Newcastle needed him.
“There isn’t any doubt I actually like Hugo and have carried out for a variety of years,” Howe stated. “He was somebody we tracked for a very long time.”
That’s an understatement.
The truth is, Newcastle tried to signal Ekitike on three separate events over a three-and-a-half-year interval.
Newcastle made their first transfer in January, 2022 when Ekitike was not precisely a family identify.
However the 23-year-old all the time had immense potential.
Few know that higher than former Brighton supervisor Oscar Garcia, who labored with Ekitike at Reims on the time.
“You don’t discover many strikers like him at that age,” Garcia lately informed Sky Sports activities. “He’s tall, quick, cellular, excellent one in opposition to one, holds the ball and scores objectives. He can match with groups that play extra on the counter-attack, but in addition with groups with extra possession as a result of he has the talent for each types.
“Hugo is aware of which elements he can enhance on, however he additionally wants assist to develop his potential to achieve the extent that each one the individuals who know him imagine he can attain.”
Newcastle weren’t alone amongst Premier League golf equipment in recognising these qualities, nonetheless.
Liverpool had additionally been monitoring Ekitike for a while after the striker rediscovered his spark at Eintracht Frankfurt following a irritating spell at Paris St-Germain.
Newcastle could have made the opening supply to Eintracht final month, however Ekitike had his sights set on a £69m transfer to Liverpool after beforehand chatting with Slot.
It proved a big second within the switch window. In additional methods than one.
